Apparatus for controlling liquid level in tanks and for actuating flushing cisterns

ABSTRACT

Flow cutoff means of a liquid flow control device is actuated by movement of a displaceable part operably associated with an air chamber of said device, this air chamber having provision for connection to an air space in an upper part of a tank, so that increase of air pressure in said chamber created by rise of liquid in the tank will move said displaceable part which in turn will operate the cutoff means to cutoff liquid flow to the tank.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George I-lanson-Graville 23 Garden Close, Banstead, England [21] Appl. No. 835,621 [22] Filed June 23, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID LEVEL IN TANKS AND FOR ACTUATING FLUSHING CISTERNS 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. [52] US. (I 137/403, 137/142, 4/47 [51] Int. (I E03d 1/10 [50] Field ofSearch 137/151, 142,403, 209;4/41-5l,99-101 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,058,672 10/1962 Zabel 137/403 X 285,875 10/1883 Boyle 4/42 2,305,154 12/1942 Gilbert 137/403 2,619,107 11/1952 Graham. 137/209X 2,698,226 12/1954 Peduzzi 137/505.46 X 3,071,150 1/1963 Whitlock... 137/403 X 3,115,149 12/1963 TOnna et a1. 137/625.46 X 3,130,155 4/1964 Heskett 137/403 X 3,433,249 3/ 1969 Nelson 137/403 X FORElGN PATENTS 185,172 9/1963 Sweden 137/403 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorneys-Emory L. Grofi and Emory L. Groff, .Ir.

ABSTRACT: Flow cutoff means of a liquid flow control device is actuated by movement of a displaceable part operably associated with an air chamber of said device, this air chamber having provision for connection to an air space in an upper part of a tank, so that increase of air pressure in said chamber created by rise of liquid in the tank will move said displaceable part which in turn will operate the cutoff means A to cutoff liquid flow to the tank.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID LEVEL IN TANKS AND FOR ACTUATING FLUSIIING CISTERNS BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION This invention relates to improved means for controlling the filling of tanks with liquids so as to attain the required level of liquid in the tank.

Up to the present the extent of filling of a tank has been controlled by a ball valve having a float which actuates a valve member incorporated with a liquid supply duct. Such ball valves are liable to suffer from mechanical defects with resulting overflow from the tank. The present invention provides an apparatus for utilizing for control of liquid to the tank, air pressure which, by the rising of liquid in the tank, is set up in an air space in an upper part of said tank, this air pressure being applied to an air chamber of the apparatus to cause associated mechanism to cut liquid flow to the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid flow control device for use in conjunction with a tank in controlling the feed thereto, said tank being one from an upper air space of which air is expelled through an air duct by rise of the liquid level in said tank, the said control device having an air chamber and provision for admitting air under pressure into said chamber, and having a displaceable part arranged for movement in being subjected to air-pressure in said chamber, said device includingalso a flow cutoff means embodied in a liquid flow duct of said device, and arranged for actuation by such movement of said displaceable part to effect cutofi through said liquid flow duct, provision being made for restoring liquid flow through said flow duct on relief of saidair pressure, the said air chamber being adapted for connection via said air duct to the said air space of the tank, the said liquid flow duct being adapted for inclusion in a liquid supply line to the tank. X

When the device is installed as above set forth, rising of the liquid in the tank will result in air being compressed in the said air space of the tank, and therefore in the air chamber of the control device via the air duct connecting said air space and air chamber (these parts constituting a closed air system) in consequence of which the displaceable part of the control device will sufi'er displacement and actuate the flow cutoff means to cut off the liquid flow to the tank, the required liquid level in the tank thus being established and maintained.

The device may comprise a rigid body having the said air chamber therein, said air chamber being defined partly by a flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm being operably coupled to a valve which constitutes the said flow cutofi' means embodied in the liquid flow duct.

In one embodiment of the invention the control device incorporates a manually operable actuating device for depressing the aforesaid diaphragm, so that the case where the tank above referred to is constituted by a flushing cistern having a syphonic discharge device in a zone clear of the aforesaid air space, sudden displacement of water from the said air space can be effected in this way, consequent disturbance of the body of water in said cistern initiating a syphonic discharge of water from said cistern for the required flushing action.

Conveniently the body of the control device may be formed as a rigid housing in which the diaphragm is mounted at its perimeter, a part of the housing on one side of said diaphragm serving, in conjunction with said diaphragm, to constitute the air chamber, the space within the chamber on the other side of said diaphragm affording accommodation for a part of a valveactuating lever, this lever being fulcrummed on said body and constituting the operative coupling between the diaphragm and the liquid cutofi' valve. If the control device made in this form is to incorporate a manually operable actuating device for depressing the diaphragm, a part of the said housing which is remote from the air chamber may be fitted with a slidable plunger which constitutes the said actuating device, and accordingly has a manipulating part projecting from the housing.

To provide the liquid flow duct, a secondary body part may be secured to or incorporated with the body aforesaid in a position at the perimeter of said body, this secondary body part having inlet and outlet connections at respective ends of a duct in said part, said duct including between portions thereof a nozzle upon which can seat a plunger valve, the lever aforesaid being arranged to exert pressure on this valve. Springy means, such as a floating springy locating disc attached to said plunger valve and anchored at its perimeter to said secondary body part, may urge said valve away from the nozzle to effect or assist opening of the valve when the pressure thereon is released.

According to another aspect of the invention, a liquid supply system incorporates a tank and liquid control means arranged as above set forth. In yet another aspect of the invention, a flushing system incorporates a syphon outlet tank or cistern and a control device having a manually operable diaphragm actuating device as above set forth, said tank or cistern and control device being arranged as above described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the control device,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of said control device, and

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a water supply system embodying said control device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The control device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a body 1 in the form of a two-part housing. Between the two fitted together parts of said body 1 there is secured a marginal portion of a flexible diaphragm -2 housed within said body. This diaphragm may be made of suitable synthetic plastics material. A major central portion of the diaphragm 2 is clamped between plates 3 secured on a stud 4 provided on one arm of a lever 5. This lever 5 passes through an opening in body 1, and is fulcrummed on said body at 6.

Secured to the body I, at a perimeter position, is a secondary body part 7 in which there are a liquid inlet duct 8a and a liquid outlet duct 8b connected by a nozzle 9. The ducts'8a and 8b are screw-threaded to provide inlet and outlet pipe connections respectively. A plunger valve 10 axially slidably in the secondary body part 7 is located by a floating springy disc 11 which may be made of any suitable synthetic plastics material having springy properties. This disc 1 1 flexes to allow movement of valve 10, and urges it in a direction away from nozzle 9. Disc 11 is clamped at its perimeter between component parts of the secondary body part 7. The valve 10 has a resilient washer for bedding on the extremity of nozzle 9, and thus cutting off liquid flow when valve 10 is depressed. The arm of lever 5 which projects from body 1 beyond the fulcrum point 6 engages into an opening in a stem of valve 10 where said stem projects from the secondary body part 7. An air duct 12 incorporated with the secondary body part 7 communicates with an air chamber 13 within body 1, this air chamber being defined by the diaphragm 2 and the portion of body 1 which is below said diaphragm in FIG. 1.

The portion of body 1 which is uppermost in FIG. 1 is fitted with an axially slidably plunger 14 disposed at a central position with respect to diaphragm 2. The plunger 14 is urged outwardly by a spring 15 to a normal out-of-use position determined by contact of a shoulder 16 with a plate 17, the spring 15 bearing at one end against this plate 17, and at its other end against a head 18 of plunger 14. When depressed, the plunger 14 bears on lever 5 and displaces the diaphragm 2 downwardly.

If the control device is for use in conjunction with a tank of a water supply system as distinct from a flushing tank or cistern, the plunger 14 and associated parts can be omitted.

In FIG. 3, reference A denotes an open top water storage tank or flushing cistern, as the case may be, B is an air trap device of inverted cup form in tank A, C denotes the valve device, D is a water main leading to the valve device, D is a water pipeline connection from the valve device for feeding tank A, and E is an air pipeline connecting the air chamber (13 in H6. 1) to the air trap device B. F is an outlet pipe which is provided if tank A delivers to a drawoff supply system, in which case plunger 14 can be omitted, and G is a syphon discharge pipe which will be provided instead of pipe F in respect of a flushingsystem.

When, during the filling of tank A, the water level reaches the bottom of air trap B and then attempts to rise therein, air pressure is created in the closed air system comprising B, E and the air chamber in C (13 in FIG. 1). Consequently'(in FIG. 1) the diaphragm 2 is forced upwardly and lever 5 is actuatcd to close valve 10. If' water is drawn off via pipe F (if provided) the fall of water in A causes drop of pressure in B and E and the air chamber 13 of C, with the result that the valve (FIG. 1) is able to rise with corresponding descent of diaphragm 2, thus allowing tank A to fill. lfa syphon discharge pipe G is provided (i.e., in the case of a flushing system) the control device C includes plunger 14, depression of this plunger displacing the diaphragm 2 (FIG. 1) to produce a sudden increase of air pressure in the closed air system (air chamber 13, pipeline E, and air trap device B) which causes sudden expulsion of water from B and consequent displacement of the entire body of water in A, this displacement initiating syphonic discharge through G.

In respect of a liquid supply system wherein the tank A has the pipe F for drawing off liquid from the tank, and an altemative to providing an air trap device B of inverted cup form is to form the tank A with a closed top, so that air is compressed in the upper part of the tank proper by the rise of liquid in said tank; in this case the air pipeline E will lead from said upper part of the tank proper. However, if the tank A is a flushing cistern having the syphon discharge pipe G, it will be generally preferable to provide an air trap device B in a zone which (as in FIG. 3) does not overlie the syphon device G, so that air forced back up the air pipeline E by depression of plunger 14 will cause liquid thereby displaced in the locality of the air trap device B to rise in the zone of the syphon device, thereby to initiate syphonic discharge from the tank. Instead of the air trap device B being of inverted cup form, it could be an inverted channel encompassing a central zone which includes the syphon device G.

I claim:

1. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, displaceable actuator means which is responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, a lever connected with said flexible expansible member, a valve mechanically connected to said lever, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.

2. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, liquid supply means to said inlet including a valve, displaceable valve actuator means responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, plate means connected with said flexible expansible member, a mechanical connection with mechanical advantage connecting said plate means and said flexible expansible member to said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means, whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.

3. A liquid flow control device according to claim 1, in combination with means responsive to release of said air pressure in said line to restore the actuator to valve open position.

. 4. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet in said tank beneath the trap,

a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air 5. A liquid flo'w control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet disposed in the tank away from the air trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to effect displacement thereof by rising air pressure from the tank, and manual means for reasserting the actuator member to valve open position and simultaneously to apply back air pressure along the line to initiate syphonic discharge through the outlet of said tank.

6. A liquid supply system including a tank having a discharge outlet, a liquid flow control device for use with said tank for controlling the feed thereto, said tank including an upper air space, air trap means in said air space, an air duct connected with said air trap and through which air is expelled by rise of the'liquid level in said tank, said control device including an air chamber and means for admitting air under pressure into said chamber, a displaceable part in said control device arranged for movement when subjected to air pressure in said chamber, said control device also including a liquid flow duct, a flow cutoff means embodied in said liquid flow duct of said device for actuation by such movement of said displaceable part to efi'ect cutoff through said liquid flow duct, means for restoring liquid flow through said flow duct upon relief of said air pressure, said air chamber connected by means of said air duct to said air space of the tank, a liquid supply line connected to said tank, said liquid flow duct included in said liquid supply line, said control device further including manually operable means for thrusting back said displaceable part from the position it assumes due to air pressure in said air chamber, and while still subjected to such air pressure, thereby forcing air back along said air duct, said discharge outlet from the tank comprising a syphon device, whereby said tank constitutes a flushing cistern, said air trap means being arranged in a zone which does not include said syphon device, the extent of air displacement available by manual operation of said displaceable part of the control device and consequent extent of liquid displacement in the tank being sufficient to initiate syphonic discharge from the tank by rising of the liquid level in the zone of the syphon device.

il i i t I! 

1. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, displaceable actuator means which is responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, a lever connected with said flexible expansible member, a valve mechanically connected to said lever, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.
 2. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, liquid supply means to said inlet including a valve, displaceable valve actuator means responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, plate means connected with said flexible expansible member, a mechanical connection with mechanical advantage connecting said plate means and said flexible expansible member to said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means, whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.
 3. A liquid flow control device according to claim 2, in combination with means responsive to release of said air pressure in said line to restore the actuator to valve open position.
 4. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet in said tank beneath the trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to cause rising water level in said tank to displace the actuator member to valve closed position, and means associated with the actuator member for manually displacing the same to valve open position, thereby to apply a back air pressure along the air line via the trap to the liquid level in the tank to cause liquid syphonically to discharge through the outlet.
 5. A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet disposed in the tank away from the air trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to effect displacement thereof by rising air pressure from the tank, and manual means for reasserting the actuator member to valve open position and simultaneously to apply back air pressure along the line to initiate syphonic discharge through the outlet of said tank.
 6. A liquid supply system including a tank having a discharge outlet, a liquid flow control device for use with said tank for controlling the feed thereto, said tank including an upper air space, air trap means in said air space, an air duct connected with said air trap and through which air is expelled by rise of the liquid level in said tank, said control device including an air chamber and means for admitting air under pressure into said chamber, a displaceable part in said control device arranged for movement when subjected to air pressure in said chamber, said control device also including a liquid flow duct, a flow cutoff means embodied in said liquid flow duct of said device for actuation by such movement of said displaceaBle part to effect cutoff through said liquid flow duct, means for restoring liquid flow through said flow duct upon relief of said air pressure, said air chamber connected by means of said air duct to said air space of the tank, a liquid supply line connected to said tank, said liquid flow duct included in said liquid supply line, said control device further including manually operable means for thrusting back said displaceable part from the position it assumes due to air pressure in said air chamber, and while still subjected to such air pressure, thereby forcing air back along said air duct, said discharge outlet from the tank comprising a syphon device, whereby said tank constitutes a flushing cistern, said air trap means being arranged in a zone which does not include said syphon device, the extent of air displacement available by manual operation of said displaceable part of the control device and consequent extent of liquid displacement in the tank being sufficient to initiate syphonic discharge from the tank by rising of the liquid level in the zone of the syphon device. 